Moving is more than packing you know

Everyone who has moved recently will remember that moving is not just about packing up and putting things in a lorry. It is also about administration. There are lots of things to remember: Electricity company, Internet, Phone, Gas, HMRC for the benefits, Bank… On the other side, we must also set up everything on the other side. The fact that we are moving abroad makes things more challenging.

It has at times been frustrating. When I tried to sort out insurance for example. Each time I tried to have a quote on the web, I could get to a certain point, and got stuck because they wated also my present address and phone number. These being british, of course the site didn’t accept them. Then, when I tried to phone, most numbers were special numbers which I couldn’t call from abroad. And when I could get through, I was welcomed by a machine.

I did get to speak to a couple of people, but either the system had crashed, or the advisers were too busy. So at the end, I got a quote from someone based in Guingamp, the representative of AXA, and I went for them because they were the first human beings I got to speak to, no machine, and I got a quote pretty quickly.

Same to sort out the electricity, it took me ages to find a nuber I could phone from abroad. Internet could take time to sort out as I don’t have the phone number of the previous tenant.

But to be honest it hasn’t been as bad as I expected. Most things have gone smoothly. There are still more things to do, but we’ll get there. I am expecting some problems nce we arrive, as France is renown for its bureaucracy. But it’s ok, we’ll manage.

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-08-01

  • We seem to be on top of the packing. Lot left though. But we are looking forward to a good rest on the Lord's day tomorrow. #
  • 9 days to go before moving. #
  • 10 Days to go. Thanks for your prayers. #
  • Just had a 30 min run, feeling refreshed. #
  • RT @davidpmurray I hate the telephone http://post.ly/p9FW #
  • 11 Days to go before moving out. #
  • WDS number 1 for efficiency: I got my P45 through the post today, will be able to get paid tomorrow by UFM. #
  • 12 days before moving out. #
  • How to Rebuild Your Attention Span and Focus http://bit.ly/aKegTo #
  • Only 13 days before moving out. The pressure is on. #
  • The blog has gone mobile. If you connect from your mobile phone, it should now automatically detect it: http://www.erdurand.com/blog try it. #
  • The family is going to Barry Island today while I am staying here to sort a few things out. #

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I greet Thee, who my sure Redeemer art

This hymn has been attributed to John Calvin. Any one has got the French words?

I greet Thee, who my sure Redeemer art,
My only trust and Savior of my heart,
Who pain didst undergo for my poor sake;
I pray Thee from our hearts all cares to take.

Thou art the King of mercy and of grace,
Reigning omnipotent in every place;
So come, O King, and our whole being sway;
Shine on us with the light of Thy pure day.

Thou art the life, by which alone we live,
And all our substance and our strength receive;
Sustain us by Thy faith and by Thy power,
And give us strength in every trying hour.

Thou hast the true and perfect gentleness,
No harshness hast Thou and no bitterness;
O grant to us the grace we find in Thee,
That we may dwell in perfect unity.

Our hope is in no other save in Thee;
Our faith is built upon Thy promise free;
Lord, give us peace, and make us calm and sure,
That in Thy strength we evermore endure.

1 Corinthians 9: 24-27 Training for the big race

Mo Farah is a British athlete of Somali origins. He won this week Britain’s first-ever European gold medal at 10,000m. I found the following quote in the Independent, dated 29th July. Farah lived for a time with some Kenyan runners and said of them : “The Kenyan runners are so humble and hard working. They run, sleep, train and that’s it. I’m living my life in that manner now. That’s exactly what you have to do to be amongst the best in the world.”

Is that what Paul had in mind when he wrote to the Corinthians:

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9: 24-27

Missionaries: Help Us Help You | Church Plant Pastor

Here is an article I could have read before starting deputation: Missionaries: Help Us Help You | Church Plant Pastor. In it, Jeff  Brewer lists 10 things that he would ike missionaries to keep in mind when they share their ministry in a local church so that people in the congregations are gripped by a love for Christ and urgency for the task of world missions.

If you are a missionary it is a must read. If you aren’t a missionary, it is helpful as well.

Read the whole article: Missionaries: Help Us Help You | Church Plant Pastor